The Incidence of Erythrasma of the Toewebs

Abstract

The recent reports of Sarkany, Taplin, and H. Blank stated that the most common site of erythrasma was between the toes in otherwise normal subjects (25 of 109 persons examined). These authors felt that erythrasma was the cause of some unexplained cases of scaling and fissuring of the toewebs not attributable to fungi. The present study was undertaken at the Student Health Service of The University of Chicago to note the incidence of erythrasma of the toewebs in a normal student population. <h3>Method</h3> The feet of 371 subjects were examined by means of a Wood's light. From those that showed orange to coral red fluorescence, scrapings were taken for mycologic and aerobic bacterial cultures and for KOH preparations. Material was also placed on the special medium described by Sarkany et al.^1-3 The medium for fungal culture consisted of Sabouraud's dextrose agar without antibiotics. The sterile special medium used was